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The mystery of how volcanic lightning happens has been solved Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:44 +0000 When particles in volcanic ash cloud rub together, some pick up positive charge and others negative – now physicists have finally elucidated how these different charges are determined

Ice core reveals low CO2 during warm spell 3 million years ago Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:12 +0000 For the first time, scientists have measured atmospheric gases from the late Pliocene, yielding data that could help to predict the future climate

Psychedelics may be no better than antidepressants for depression Wed, 18 Mar 2026 15:00:18 +0000 Drugs like psilocybin that induce psychedelic effects have shown promise for treating depression. Now, a review of the evidence suggests that they are effective, but no more so than traditional antidepressants

Google rerouted hundreds of flights to cut climate-warming contrails Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:41:51 +0000 A weather-forecasting AI was used to recommend routes for American Airlines flights between the US and Europe to reduce the formation of contrails, which contribute to global warming

Particle discovered at CERN solves a 20-year-old mystery Tue, 17 Mar 2026 09:00:32 +0000 Physicists working on the LHCb experiment have spotted an elusive and fleeting particle, a heavier and more charming cousin to the proton, that has been sought for decades

The neuroscientist who wants us to be nicer to psychopaths Wed, 18 Mar 2026 16:00:08 +0000 Abigail Marsh has found that many psychopaths don’t want to be cruel and uncaring, and argues that they deserve support to help them get there

Social media is a defective product Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:21:37 +0000 Two lawsuits are being brought against giant tech firms for the dangers their apps pose to young people. Columnist Annalee Newitz says the outcome of those cases could dramatically change social media for the better

A very serious guide to buying your own humanoid robot butler Tue, 17 Mar 2026 16:00:48 +0000 You can now buy a humanoid robot housekeeper for less than the price of a second-hand car. But before splashing out, there’s something you need to know

Your partner may wake you up six times a night – but does it matter? Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:00:40 +0000 People who share a bed with a partner are woken by them multiple times per night, but don’t remember most of these disturbances

The ancient Goths were an ethnically diverse group Mon, 16 Mar 2026 12:00:54 +0000 Ancient DNA reveals that the Goths of eastern Europe, some of whom would ultimately sack the city of Rome, may have been a mix of peoples from three continents

3I/ATLAS: Interstellar comet has water unlike any in our solar system Tue, 17 Mar 2026 07:00:42 +0000 The levels of a heavy form of hydrogen in 3I/ATLAS are 30 to 40 times higher than in Earth's oceans, suggesting the comet has a cold and distant origin

Forget the multiverse. In the pluriverse, we create reality together Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:00:20 +0000 A radical idea that resolves many quantum paradoxes suggests there is no objective view of reality. How can the cosmos be stitched together from interlocking perspectives?

The asteroid Ryugu has all of the main ingredients for life Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:00:10 +0000 All five of the canonical nucleobases – the underpinnings of DNA, RNA and life on Earth – have been found in samples from the asteroid Ryugu

Why global warming is accelerating and what it means for the future Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:00:52 +0000 Scientists disagree whether human-made climate change or natural fluctuations are mostly to blame for worse-than-expected heat in recent years

AI is nearly exclusively designed by men – here's how to fix it Mon, 16 Mar 2026 13:00:20 +0000 With the Trump administration’s attacks on so-called woke AI it is becoming even harder to make the technology we use fairer and more diverse. Leading voices are speaking out, reports Catherine de Lange

How a midlife tune-up could help prepare you for a healthy old age Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:21:37 +0000 Most of us don’t worry about our health in old age until we get there, but research is increasingly showing that how you live in your mid-50s can have a real impact in your 90s

Single-celled organism with no brain is capable of Pavlovian learning Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:00:32 +0000 A trumpet-shaped, single-celled organism seems able to predict one thing will follow another, hinting that such associative learning emerged long before multicellular nervous systems

What does it mean if the universe has extra dimensions? Mon, 16 Mar 2026 09:00:04 +0000 Dimensions beyond the four we’re familiar with could solve a host of problems in physics and cosmology. Columnist Leah Crane explores what a higher-dimensional universe might be like – and how we could find out if we live in one

Why are we so obsessed with protein? A new book looks for answers Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Samantha King and Gavin Weedon's new book Protein digs deep into the nutrient's role in our health. But can it tell you how much you should be eating? Alexandra Thompson explores

A smartphone app can help men last longer in bed Sat, 14 Mar 2026 00:01:45 +0000 In a randomised trial, men who experience premature ejaculation benefitted from using an app to learn techniques for extending intercourse

Frailty sets in far earlier than you’d expect, but you can reverse it Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:00:48 +0000 We’re learning that frailty can quietly arrive decades before old age, with some people in their 30s or 40s unknowingly in a pre-frail state. There are surprising ways to stay strong – and it’s not all about weight training

Our extinct Australopithecus relatives may have had difficult births Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:00:45 +0000 Simulations of Australopithecus hominins’ anatomy suggest that when they gave birth, they may have exerted tremendous pressure on their pelvic floors, putting them at risk of tearing

The 3 things you need to know about passwords, from a security expert Fri, 13 Mar 2026 15:00:26 +0000 There are a few simple things you can do to make your digital life much more secure, says cybersecurity expert Jake Moore - follow these tips to tighten up your passwords

We don’t know if AI-powered toys are safe, but they’re here anyway Fri, 13 Mar 2026 00:01:57 +0000 Toys powered by AI show a worrying lack of emotional understanding. But we need to understand the risks and benefits of the technology so the industry can be regulated, not outright banned

Parkinson's disease may reduce enjoyment of pleasant smells Wed, 11 Mar 2026 12:00:41 +0000 The "world smells different" for people with Parkinson's disease, a discovery that could help doctors spot the condition sooner

New Scientist recommends sci-fi novel Under the Eye of the Big Bird Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Why are we so suspicious of do-gooders? Fri, 13 Mar 2026 09:00:44 +0000 A growing body of research shows that we tend to discount a person’s good deeds if they stand to benefit from them. Columnist David Robson explores where this instinct comes from – and whether we should resist it

A glimpse into the rare earth riches of Greenland Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:34 +0000 Photographer Jonas Kako travelled to Greenland to explore how mining for the rare earth elements and minerals that are vital for new green technologies is impacting locals

The race to solve the biggest problem in quantum computing Fri, 13 Mar 2026 07:00:40 +0000 The errors that quantum computers make are holding the technology back. But recent progress in quantum error correction has excited many researchers

How worried should you be about your BMI? Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:00:59 +0000 Body mass index (BMI) is used as a global standard for measuring health, but does it actually tell you anything about how healthy you are on an individual level? Carissa Wong explains the problems with this flawed tool

Can species evolve fast enough to survive as the planet heats up? Thu, 12 Mar 2026 18:00:29 +0000 The story of a wildflower that adapted to a severe drought in California raises hopes that evolution will come to the rescue of species hit by climate change, but there are limits

Chemistry may not be the 'killer app' for quantum computers after all Thu, 12 Mar 2026 17:00:15 +0000 Two popular quantum computing algorithms for problems in chemistry may have very limited use even as quantum hardware improves

Why drug overdose deaths have suddenly plummeted in the US Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:00:16 +0000 Fentanyl-related overdose deaths fell by nearly 30 per cent in the space of a year in the US, which could represent a significant turning point in the country's opioid addiction crisis

We’ve only just confirmed that Homo habilis really existed Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:00:13 +0000 Their species name is well known, but until recently we’ve understood very little for certain about Homo habilis. Columnist Michael Marshall reveals what new fossils are telling us about the hominins that have been considered the first humans

Rumours of a Firefly reboot abound, but should the Serenity fly again? Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:15:55 +0000 Star Nathan Fillion is stoking rumours that cult western-in-space television series Firefly could be rebooted. Emily H. Wilson realises she is being toyed with – but is still praying for its return

Undisclosed ads on TikTok skirt ban on profiling minors Thu, 12 Mar 2026 10:15:09 +0000 Teenagers are being bombarded with highly targeted commercial content on TikTok, despite an EU law that prohibits profiling minors for advertising

A miniature magnet rivals behemoths in strength for the first time Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:54 +0000 Strong magnets tend to be large and power-hungry, but a new design has produced a powerful magnet that fits in the palm of your hand, making it more practical and affordable

Mathematics is undergoing the biggest change in its history Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:00:25 +0000 The speed at which artificial intelligence is gaining in mathematical ability has taken many by surprise. It is rewriting what it means to be a mathematician

King penguins are thriving in a warmer climate, but it may not last Wed, 11 Mar 2026 18:00:53 +0000 Longer summers are allowing more king penguin chicks to bulk up and survive the winter, but the penguins' main fishing area is shifting further away as temperatures rise

Why a Peruvian mountain is becoming an 'impossible' particle detector Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:00:16 +0000 Deep canyons in the Andes are the perfect location to catch the most energetic particles in the universe. Carlos Argüelles-Delgado reveals how these intergalactic envoys could help prove the quantum nature of gravity

Why the world's militaries are scrambling to create their own Starlink Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:00:47 +0000 The reliable internet connections provided by Starlink offer a huge advantage on the battlefield. But as access is dependent on the whims of controversial billionaire Elon Musk, militaries are looking to build their own version

Start-up is building the first data centre to use human brain cells Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:55:48 +0000 Cortical Labs is building two data centres that will house its neuron-filled chips. The technology is still in the very early stages of development

Orcas may be to blame for some mass dolphin strandings Wed, 11 Mar 2026 00:01:07 +0000 Two mass strandings involving hundreds of dolphins in Argentina probably happened because the pods were being hunted by orcas, highlighting the role of predators in these mysterious events

I was accused of killing over 100 million rabbits across Australia Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:00:33 +0000 When New Scientist reporter James Woodford was assigned to a story about a virus designed to kill rabbits, he never expected to be accused of spreading it

Sharing genetic risk scores can unwittingly reveal secrets Tue, 10 Mar 2026 17:00:37 +0000 Statistics that quantify a person’s predisposition to diseases such as diabetes and cancer can be reverse-engineered to reveal the underlying genetic data, prompting privacy concerns

Mystery 'whippet' space explosion is the brightest of its kind Tue, 10 Mar 2026 14:00:27 +0000 A rapidly brightening burst of light called AT 2024wpp, or "the Whippet", is baffling astronomers. One explanation is that it is the result of an exotic star falling into a black hole

Project Hail Mary is a spiritual sibling to The Martian - and it's fab Tue, 10 Mar 2026 13:00:45 +0000 Ryan Gosling stars in the latest adaptation of an Andy Weir novel, another tale of a lone genius battling to survive in space. Bethan Ackerley thoroughly approves

What is a galaxy? That's a surprisingly difficult question to answer Tue, 10 Mar 2026 12:00:50 +0000 Figuring out what really counts as a galaxy could give us insights into dark matter and potentially shake up astrophysics, cosmology and particle physics, says columnist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

Human populations evolved in similar ways after we began farming Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:00:12 +0000 An analysis of ancient and modern DNA suggests the extent of convergent evolution in different peoples around the world is even greater than we thought

Why is black rain falling on Iran and how dangerous is it? Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:11:46 +0000 US-Israeli strikes on oil facilities have caused black rain to fall on Tehran, but the black smoke filling the air is likely to be a bigger health risk

A daily multivitamin may slightly slow rates of ageing Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:00:29 +0000 Taking a multivitamin every day might slightly slow the rate of ageing, but the extent to which this is relevant to our health is unclear

'Singing' dogs may show the evolutionary roots of musicality Mon, 09 Mar 2026 14:00:21 +0000 Some Samoyeds adjust the pitch of their howls depending on the music being played, showing a form of vocal ability they might have inherited from their wolf ancestors

How an intern helped build the AI that shook the world Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:33 +0000 Chris Maddison was just an intern when he started working on the Go-playing AI that would eventually become AlphaGo. A decade later, he talks about that match against Lee Sedol and what came next

The first apes to walk upright may have evolved in Europe Mon, 09 Mar 2026 12:07:23 +0000 A single femur found in Bulgaria appears to represent an ape or early hominin that walked on two legs before any known African hominin, but the evidence is far from conclusive

SETI may have missed alien signals because of space weather Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:26:50 +0000 SETI has spent decades listening for a sharp, well-defined radio signal that could indicate it was sent by distant intelligent life. Now researchers believe that space weather could distort and blur such signals – meaning SETI has been scanning for the wrong thing

The moment that kicked off the AI revolution Sat, 07 Mar 2026 06:00:22 +0000 It's been 10 years since Go champion Lee Sedol lost to DeepMind's AlphaGo. Has the technology lived up to its potential?

Why cosmology seems to be caught in a vibe shift Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Whether you call it a vibe shift or a paradigm shift, physicists must be ready to challenge their fundamental understanding of the universe without fear or nostalgia

Shift in the Gulf Stream could signal ocean current collapse Fri, 06 Mar 2026 15:51:07 +0000 Models show that as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation gets weaker, the Gulf Stream will drift northwards. There are signs that this is already happening, and a more abrupt shift could warn of more severe climate impacts

Why Yuri Gagarin wasn’t the first in space – and who beat him to it Fri, 06 Mar 2026 09:00:03 +0000 Everyone knows Yuri Gagarin as the first person to go to space. But was he? Literary historian Vladimir Brljak tells the tale of the intrepid balloonists who first flew beyond the blue terrestrial sky, challenging the definition of where our world begins to end

Ancient 'weirdo' reptile graduated from 4 legs to 2 in adolescence Mon, 09 Mar 2026 04:00:03 +0000 Sonselasuchus cedrus, discovered in fossils from Arizona, was a crocodile relative from the Triassic period that grew into an ostrich-like adult

The real reasons birth rates are declining worldwide Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:00:52 +0000 From the cost of childcare to the housing crisis, there’s no shortage of explanations for the dramatic global fall in the number of babies being born. These analyses, though, are all missing something, says cognitive and evolutionary anthropologist Paula Sheppard

We must close the 'shocking' knowledge gap in women's health Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:30:00 +0000 This International Women's Day, we should prioritise groundbreaking research into women's health, such as strengthening the reproductive system's natural defences, says Anita Zaidi

A bizarre type of black hole could solve three cosmic mysteries in one Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:00:27 +0000 Black holes that turn matter into energy could explain dark energy and answer two other cosmic questions. Now, the challenge is to find them

A crisis in cosmology may mean hidden dimensions really exist Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:00:49 +0000 Physicists are scrambling to understand why dark energy is weakening. In a surprising twist, we must now reconsider the possibility that our reality contains extra dimensions

Adrian Tchaikovsky's new Children of Time novel is brilliant Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The latest novel in this entirely original science-fiction series features a human-size mantis shrimp as an "uplifted" species. It's ambitious and fantastic, says sci-fi columnist Emily H. Wilson

The bombshell results that demand a new theory of the universe Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:00:29 +0000 Last year, our most detailed map of the universe yet suggested our understanding of dark energy has been wrong for decades. The shock result is reigniting the search for a better cosmic story

NASA changed an asteroid's orbit around the sun for the first time Fri, 06 Mar 2026 19:00:00 +0000 NASA’s DART mission slammed into the small asteroid Dimorphos in 2022, and the impact slowed its orbit around the larger Didymos – and also the pair’s path around the sun

Chemistry clues could detect aliens unlike any life on Earth Fri, 06 Mar 2026 18:00:42 +0000 Looking for molecular evidence of life on other worlds is tricky, but a test based on the reactivity of carbon compounds could be a useful indicator

Inflammation might cause Alzheimer's – here's how to reduce it Fri, 06 Mar 2026 17:09:16 +0000 Persistent inflammation in the gut, lungs and skin might lead to Alzheimer's disease, but lifestyle choices - from getting vaccinated to eating well - can keep inflammation under control

The best new popular science books of March 2026 Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:00:31 +0000 A new book from Rebecca Solnit, promising to bring us hope in these “difficult times”, is among our pick of popular science titles out this month – along with a guide on how to talk to AI, and a look at modern warfare

Earth is now heating up twice as fast as in previous decades Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Since 2014, the planet has been warming by about 0.36°C per decade, according to an analysis of five temperature datasets, raising fears that climate tipping points could be crossed earlier than expected

The secret to guessing more accurately with maths Fri, 06 Mar 2026 11:00:15 +0000 What do a 20th-century physicist, an 18th-century statistician and an ancient Greek philosopher have in common? They all knew how to extrapolate with incredible accuracy. Columnist Jacob Aron explains how to combine their methods to improve your ability to guess

New Scientist recommends real-world stealth game LANDER 23 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 The books, TV, games and more that New Scientist staff have enjoyed this week

Alzheimer’s may start with inflammation in the skin, lungs or gut Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:00:33 +0000 The Alzheimer’s field is being turned on its head as mounting evidence points to the disease beginning outside the brain many years before symptoms start. This may mean we have to totally rethink how we approach preventing and treating the condition

Möbius strip-like molecule has an entirely new and bizarre shape Thu, 05 Mar 2026 19:00:31 +0000 A ring of 13 carbon atoms and two chlorine atoms has a remarkable molecular structure that means you would have to go around the loop four times to return to your starting position

How worried should you be about microplastics? Wed, 04 Mar 2026 10:29:33 +0000 Microplastics have been found accumulating everywhere from our water to our body tissues, but many of the claims have come under fresh scrutiny. Chelsea Whyte cuts through the research to tell you whether you really need to worry

Just one dose of psilocybin relieves symptoms of OCD for months Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:00:44 +0000 Taking psilocybin – the psychedelic component of magic mushrooms – eased symptoms of obsessive compulsive disorder among people who did not respond to conventional treatments, and the effects lasted at least several months

Two marsupials believed extinct for 6000 years found alive Thu, 05 Mar 2026 13:00:23 +0000 Indigenous people in Papua, Indonesia, have helped scientists track down two animals that were thought to have gone extinct thousands of years ago: a relative of Australia’s greater glider and a palm-sized possum with a bizarre, elongated finger

How to convey amounts of snow to Canadians: use polar bears Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Feedback is pleased to discover another delightfully unconventional unit of measurement, which is used to convey amounts of snow on Ottawa's Rideau canal

What to read this week: Poisonous People by Leanne ten Brinke Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:00 +0000 If up to 20 per cent of us really do score highly on traits related to psychopathy, we are going to need all the help offered by a compelling new book. Start by admitting your own dark traits, finds Sally Adee

The secret of how cats twist in mid-air to land on their feet Wed, 04 Mar 2026 18:00:55 +0000 An exceptionally flexible region of the spine enables falling cats to twist the front and back halves of their body sequentially to ensure a safe landing

Sea levels around the world are much higher than we thought Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:00:49 +0000 Most coastal risk assessments have underestimated current sea levels, meaning tens of millions of people face losing their homes to rising waters earlier than expected

Top predators still prowled the seas after the biggest mass extinction Wed, 04 Mar 2026 14:49:39 +0000 The end-Permian extinction 252 million years ago wiped out over 80 per cent of marine species, but many ecosystems still had complex food webs despite the losses

Claude AI: Why are there so many internet outages? Wed, 04 Mar 2026 12:27:57 +0000 AI chatbot Claude going down is just one example of a recent IT outage. One of the main vulnerabilities of the modern internet is to blame for the growing number of incidents

Phantom codes could help quantum computers avoid errors Tue, 03 Mar 2026 18:00:24 +0000 A method for making quantum computers less error-prone could let them run complex programs such as simulations of materials more efficiently, thus making them more useful

Rare family has had many more sons than daughters for generations Tue, 03 Mar 2026 17:13:31 +0000 Analysing the births of a Utah family over seven generations has revealed that their disproportionate number of boys could be caused by a selfish Y chromosome

Your microbiome may determine your risk of a severe allergic reaction Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:00:26 +0000 The microbes that live in our mouth and gut may influence whether an allergic reaction to peanuts is mild or life-threatening, and could be harnessed to ward off a severe attack

Why the US is using a cheap Iranian drone against the country itself Tue, 03 Mar 2026 12:36:45 +0000 The US and Iran are trading blows in the Gulf with a simple drone that costs as little as $50,000 to make. But why is a slow, cheap and relatively primitive drone seeing use in 2026 alongside hypersonic missiles and stealth jets?

Can Michael Pollan crack the problem of consciousness in his new book? Tue, 03 Mar 2026 10:30:22 +0000 The science writer delves into the vast subject of consciousness in his new book A World Appears – and draws some surprising conclusions, finds Grace Wade

Spreading crushed rock on farms could absorb 1 billion tonnes of CO2 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 15:00:17 +0000 Putting silicate rocks from mine waste on fields could improve crops and limit global warming, but some researchers question where all that rock is going to come from

Can magnesium supplements improve sleep, energy and concentration? Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:20 +0000 Magnesium has been called the “super mineral of the moment”, hailed for its supposed benefits for the brain and body. But columnist Alice Klein finds that the evidence is lacking for many of these claims

Would aliens do physics, or is science a human invention? Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:00:18 +0000 Shaped by a different biology or culture, other intelligent civilisations – if they’re out there – might understand the universe in a completely different way than we do. Physicist Daniel Whiteson explores what that could tell us about physics and ourselves

First drone passengers may be combat casualties and criminals Tue, 03 Mar 2026 08:00:11 +0000 Drones aren't yet licensed to carry passengers, but some may already be airlifting wounded personnel off the battlefield and could be employed for smuggling people

Crisis in cosmology: If we’ve got dark energy wrong, what could it be? Mon, 02 Mar 2026 16:00:25 +0000 This is a New Scientist special package about shock results that have upended cosmology. What do they mean for our models of the universe, and what are the alternative explanations?

Ants capture carbon dioxide from the air and turn it into armour Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:00:53 +0000 Fungus-farming ants have evolved a remarkable solution to the danger of excess carbon dioxide inside their nests – which could inspire ways for humans to capture CO2

People who eat a lot of fibre spend more time in deep sleep Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:41:10 +0000 The most comprehensive study to date has revealed what we need to eat throughout the day to sleep well that night

The best new science fiction books of March 2026 Mon, 02 Mar 2026 10:30:21 +0000 The latest in Adrian Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time series is out this month, along with a speculative retelling of Moby-Dick and a forgotten classic from 1936

Why the sleep industry has got us worrying about the wrong things Wed, 25 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0000 Many of us obsess over how much sleep we get each night, and the dangers to our health of not getting enough, but really, there is another way

Human brain cells on a chip learned to play Doom in a week Fri, 27 Feb 2026 15:00:39 +0000 Neuron-powered computer chips can now be easily programmed to play a first-person shooter game, bringing biological computers a step closer to useful applications

Inside the company selling quantum entanglement Mon, 02 Mar 2026 09:00:46 +0000 Cables underneath New York City are teeming with entangled quantum particles of light thanks to Qunnect, a company that has spent a decade working on building an unhackable quantum internet